Thread reel and guard



May 29, 1934. R, 5 MAY 1,960,273

THREAD REEL AND GUARD Filed NOV. 20, 1933 INVENTOR.

RAMONA 5. MAY

H64, /7 B q ATTORNE Patented May 29,

STATES rattan PATENT E 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved means whereby the thread on a spool will be prevented from accidentally unwinding therefrom.

Sewing machine drawers, sewing baskets, sewing cabinets, and the like become messy and untidy and the threads from different spools become unwound and entangled with each other when the spools are dropped into such places after using.

As a result, when a particular spool is desired much time, energy and wastage of material result when such inconveniences arise, for it becomes necessary either to untangle the threads or break away the entangled portions. These inconveniences are due to the fact that the stock of the spool adjacent the slit where a thread holder is provided, breaks away, releasing the end of the thread.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved thread reel and guard whereby these unnecessary inconveniences may be eradicated.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the customer a plurality of thread guards which may be suitably grouped and mounted on a piece of cardboard and sold over the counters of dime stores.

Yet another advantage is the simple and inexpensive manner in which the utility may be produced.

In the several figures of the drawing I show a variety of generic embodiments of the invention wherein,

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of one species; and Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of alternate species.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryeside elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, some parts beingbroken away to show the detail construction of still other parts.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bearing part common to all species.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a spool '7 is shown having a layer 8 of thread thereon from which extends an unwound portion of thread 9.

In order to keep the thread from accidentally unwinding, a wire thread-guard member 10 is provided having at each end a trunnion 11, these trunnions operatively engaging bearing members 12 which are seated in the ends of the spool bore 13.

.In Fig. 1, the wire member 10 is shown in its simplest form. The wire portion shown in Fig. 5 may be regarded as a reproduction of an end portion of any of the modified wire members shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, except that the wire member does not contact directly with the spool in all the views in the same manner.

The bearing member 12 is common to all illustrated species of the invention. Said member is preferably of a. hemispherical form, the convex side thereof being in each case seated within an end portion of the spool bore. Said member is provided, preferably at the center of its flat side, with a seat consisting of a recess or short bore 15, and with a radial groove 16 the inner end of which connects with the seat 15. When the parts are assembled the trunnions 11 are seated within the recesses 15, and the end arms 17 near their ends rest within the grooves 16. In all its forms the wire member is made suificiently resilient to cause the trunnions 11 to spring into the seats 15 while the arm portions 17 engage the grooves 16 with sufficient pressureto keep the bearing members 12 safely seated within the end portions of the spool 'bore 13. The wire member shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has an obtusely bent portion 20 which grazes the spool flange 21 to act as an additional brake, and also prevents the thread from accidentally entering the space between the arm 1'? and the end of the spool. In Fig. 1 the wire member is shown with an outbowed central portion 9a to guide the thread toward the center thereof while it is being unwound, and add to the stiffness of the wire member.

Altho each bearing member 12 is shown as having a convex surface opposite to its fiat side which is adapted to seat upon and to some extent to protrude into the end of the bore of the spool, yet, if desired, said bearing member may have an otherwise shaped protruding side portion opposite to its flat face, to seat within the adjacent end of the bore of the spool, and would still come within the scope of the invention as defined in some of the appended claims.

In Fig. 2 the structure is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 5 except that the central portion of the wire member is provided with a straight-outwardly offset central portion 91), which at each end is united to the remainder of the wire by the bent wire portions 90, and which are positioned to graze the spool flange for the purpose already stated in describing the structure shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 3 is shown another modification of the wire wherein an outwardly directed wiregripping loop 9d is provided at the mid-length of the wire.

In all the forms, the wire member is resilient, 110

and is bent from a single strand of wire, its end portion being bent in such a manner as to embrace the spool endwise and press the trunnions into the bearing members with the proper amount of force.

In Fig. 4 the central portion of the wire is provided with oppositely disposed thread-gripping loops, namely, an inner loop and an outer loop 26, each of the loops being open at its outer end to receive the thread to be gripped thereby. The wire'portion 2500 which forms the inner side of loop 25 is extended beyond the end of that loop longitudinally of the axis of the spool and beyond the adjacent end of the spool, and is then bent at a right angle so as to substantially parallel the end surface of the spool. Likewise the wire portion 26a, which forms the outer side of the outer loop 26 is in the same manner directed toward the other end of the spool and is then bent into parallelism withthe spools end.

Whether the thread is inan outside position with relation to the wire member, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, or in an inside position with relation to the wire, as shown in dotted lines in said view, it may in either case readily be urged into'one or the other of the loops.

When the unwound portion of the thread is wedged into any of the thread-gripping crotches formedby the wire loops 9d, 25 and 26, the thread is effectually prevented from any undesired additional unwinding because there is enough circumferential contact between the bearing memmm 12 and the end portions of the bore of the spool to produce enough friction to prevent accidental rotation of the spool with relation to the wire member as a whole. The arms 1'7 will not move with relation to the bearing members 12 because said arms are seated within the grooves 16.

' The .bearing members 12 may be made of hard rubber as shown or they may be made of glass or other material. Whenthey are made of rubber their friction grip upon the spool is augmented.

The notch 'mshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown broken at. 7a: in Fig; 4, thus illustrating the ne'- ces'sity of a more dependable thread-holding device, such as is produced by this invention.

1 claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, the com bination, with a spool for thread; of av pairof planoconvex bearing members to seat in the ends of the sp oolsbore, said bearing members having. seats. in their plane faces, and radial grooves leading from said seats, and a resilient wire thread-guardhaving end arms 'to engage within said grooves, said arms terminating in trunnions to enter said seats.

21A thread guarding device comprising a spool, bearing means mounted in the end portions of the bore of the spool, and a. resilient one-piece wire member having end portions to spring into operative engagement with said bearing means, said member being bent between its ends to form a thread-gripping crotch.

3. The combination with a spool ofv thread having a bore extending axiallytherethru, or bearings provided with convex surfaces peripherally 'engaging the endsof said bore, a wire member for embracing a portion of said spool, said member having terminal portions journalled in said bearings, :and said bearings having a radially extending groove engageable withanother portion of said member. 3

4. A resilient-wire member bent from. a single strand of wire for embracing a portion of a spool and comprising oppositely disposed loops of wire formed so as to lie in the same plane and extending longitudinally the axis of said spool, there being one loop for engaging the thread of the spool when it lies within the boundary of said member, and another loop for engaging the thread when it lies without the boundary of said member, the wire which forms one side of each loop being extended beyond the end of such loop longitudinally theaxis of the spool to a point adjacent the end of the spool and there bent at a right angle so as to parallel the end surface of said spool, said right angular bent portions in turn each being bent at an angle whereby they are directed toward each other to form trunnions and bearings having convex surfaces engageable with the bore of said spool, upon which said trunnions are mounted.

5; A resilient wire member bent from a single strand of wire for embracing a portion of a spool and comprising oppositely disposed loops of wire formedjso as to lie in the same plane and exdi 'loneitu nally t e x Pla d spool, there being one loopjfor engaging the threadof the spool when it lies within the boundary of said member, and another loopv for' engaging the thread when it, lies without the boundary of said membenthe wire which forms one side of each loop being extendedbeyond the end of such loop longitudinally the axis of "the spoolto a point adjacent the end of the spool and there bent at a right angle so as, to parallel the end surface of said spool, said right angular bent portions in turn "each being bent at an angle whereby they are directed'toward' each other to form trun- 1. 1 5 and be in avin con ex su engageable with the bore of said spool upon which saicltrunnions are mounted, said bearings each b n prQ cled with a rad ally ext n s at to receive said trunnions.

' 6. *A resilient wire member bent from a single trand. o Wi e. for embracin a po on fa spool and comprising oppositely disposed loops ofwire formed so asto lie inthe same plane and xt n n on itudina l the axis of said spool, therebeing one loop'for engaging the thread of the $11 1 when it lies within, the boundary of said member, andjanotherloop for engaging the thread when it lies without the boundary, of said member, the wire, which forms oneside of each oop .bein L' xt nde beyon the d O Such 0 p longitudinally the axis'of the spool to a ,pointadjacentthe end of the spool and there bentat'a right angle so as to parallelthe end surface of said spool, the strand of'wire whichjis extended m t e. lo p wh ch en gesflthethr d when it lieswithout the boundary of aid member grazing the peripheral edge of said spoollas. the thread is unwound therefrom,'said right angular bent portions in turn each beingbent'at an angle whereby theyare' directed toward each other to form trunnions, andbearings having convex surfaces engageablej with the bore of said spool .upon which said trunnionsfare mounted.

j 7 In a deviceof the kind described, the combination, with a,v spool for, thread; of a pair of bearing members each having aside portion adapted to. seat upon and project into'an end of the borev of ,thef pooland having .opposite to said side portio'n a plane surface with a seat and a groovetherein, anda resilient wire threadgu'aid. havingfend arms to engage within said grooves, saiiijendjarms' terminatingin trunnions toenter sai'd'seats'." RAMONA B; MAY. 

